AUBURN, Wash. (August 24, 2013) – The Gang and I got a rail-skimming ride from Eliska Kubinova and edged clear for a 2 ½-length victory Saturday in the $15,850 Coca-Cola Purse for older fillies and mares at Emerald Downs.

Trained by Jim Penney for owners Homestretch Farms and Ellen Follett, The Gang and I ran 6 ½ furlongs in 1:15.93 and paid $4.80 and $3.

A 5-year-old Washington-bred by You and I-R C Gangster, The Gang and I has a 7-5-4 record in 26 starts with earnings of $117,164, including $8,718 for Saturday’s victory.

However, the winner was claimed for $25,000 by Rotator Stable and will now be trained by Frank Lucarelli.

Maggie’s Special, ridden by Anne Sanguinetti, rallied to finish second and paid $5.80 for place.

Ms P K Blue and Perfect Pie completed the order of finish. Better to Be Lucky was scratched earlier in the day.

In the $0.50 Pick 5, which included a $6,120 carryover, tickets with five winners paid $8,183.50. It was the second highest payout of the season, topped only by the track record Pick 5 of $22,203.55 set June 2.

NOTES: Kubinova rode two winners on the nine-race program and is 7-6-0 in 19 starts for the Penney barn this season…David G. Lopez also had a two-win day…Mo’s Flashy Date crossed the wire first in race seven but was disqualified and placed second for interference in deep stretch. Chicks Dig Him ($7.40) was promoted from second to first, giving trainer Tim McCanna his second win of the day…Rf Pistol Pete ($3.40) won Saturday’s opener for Quarter Horses, running 400 yards in :20.40 under Debbie Hoonan for owner/trainer Juan Sanguino. A 5-year-old Oklahoma-bred, Rf Pistol Pete has four wins at the meet; Chicks Special Angel with two wins is the only other QH with more than one win. Hoonan, with six wins and Sanguino, with seven, already have set single-season Quarter Horse records at Emerald Downs…The meet’s biggest race for Quarter Horses—$60,000 Bank of America Emerald Downs Championship Challenge—is Sunday, September 1, with Chicks Special Angel expected to be heavily favored in the 440-yard event…Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer had a big day as 3-year-old filly Sweet Lulu ($5.80) remained unbeaten with a head victory in the $500,000 Test Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. Closer to home, 6-year-old gelding Malibu Rum ($6) won his 11th career race with a come-from-behind victory in a $31,000 optional claimer at Golden Gate Fields. Now owned by Janet Hollendorfer and George Todaro of Seattle, Malibu Rum won five races at Emerald Downs for trainer Dan Markle and owners Sue & Tim Spooner…At Del Mar, Moment of Weakness ($8.40)—owned by Wally Thompson’s Crystal Ridge Farm—won the third race under Chantal Sutherland-Kruse for trainer Vann Belvoir. Moment of Weakness was winless in three starts at the current Emerald Downs’ meet…Live racing continues Sunday with first post 2 p.m. The $50,000 Barbara Shinpoch Stakes for 2-year-old fillies goes as race nine, withAngie C Stakes winner Chu and You the 8-to-5 morning line favorite.